Extract from
Patres ecclesiae anglicanae : Aldhelmus, Beda, Bonifacius, Arcuionus, Lanfrancus, Anselmus, Thomas Cantuariensis. J.-H. Parker. 1845. pp. 119–.
Materials for the History of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (Canonized by Pope Alexander III, AD 1173). Cambridge University Press. pp. 29-. ISBN 978-1-108-04928-3.
At about the same time Arnulf, bishop of Lisieux, crossed over the sea to visit the king whom he had offended, desiring, if it were possible, to see if he could placate him in anyway. And, by every means he spoke caressingly and pleasingly to the king, even against the archbishop: unafraid to give advice, he said, "the controversy between yourself and the archbishop has turned into a difficulty, not easily stopped. It is impossible for the archbishop to submit to you as long as his own suffragan bishops are of one mind and speak the same sentences as he. And therefore, if you cannot tear all of them away from him, at least tear a number of those who are in any way supplicant to you: it will not be easy for the remainder to hold fast once you get these bishops in your favour. And, if the archbishop is then alone in his stubborn persistence, not only will he not be strong, it might be truly possible for the bishops to obtain letters of suspension."
Accepting this advice, the king summoned to himself at Gloucester those from among the bishops who could be swayed, namely, Roger [archbishop] of York, and the bishop of Lincoln, and asked them how far they they would be prepared to go in confirming his customs, assuming beforehand he would exact nothing from them, which might oppose their order. Thus did the king obtain promises from those two, which pleased him. Soon afterwards his party was joined by Hilary of Chichester.
When this was done, this same Hilary went to the archbishop at Lenham [in Kent]: and he began to urge as he could not persuade him, inasmuch one may know how to favour the will of the king asserting to him much of expediency. He clearly demonstrated that he was a miracle of book learning, using many refined and persuasive words [rhetoric?].
The archbishop, who not which from his own but sought from Jesus Christ. "The Lord forbid," he said, "that with such trade in lands I might buy back the grace of this earthly king," having also explained to him this when compared the church and heavenly king had bought his with his own blood.
"You, however, and Lincoln, together with York, have been not only bought with bribes, and rather much is rendered ineffective as you might be made to suffer ecclesiastic penalties [excommunication], concerning the promises which you have made to the king about preserving his customs, which are recognised as being wholly against the holy canons of the fathers [of the church]. But yet whatever you might have done to us or others soon may strongly be doing to me in so horrible presumption at no time you have shared."
To this Hilary said, "I ask what is it that is so horrendous and evil which you alone in this matter have seen and understood, and nobody else but you? The king said to us using these words, that we should defer to him, and honour him, himself also promising us, that at no time would these concessions be the cause of something which he would use to seek and rebound on our order."
And the archbishop said, "Indeed it is not bad, but rather is good to honour one's lord, provided God is not dishonoured, and holy church is neither unsettled, nor imperilled. Nonetheless this you will most certainly come to know that the king will exact from you whatever you have promised to him, but you, however, will remain with promises you will not be able to collect from him."
Accepting this advice, the king summoned to himself at Gloucester those from among the bishops who could be swayed, namely, Roger [archbishop] of York, and the bishop of Lincoln, and asked them how far they they would be prepared to go in confirming his customs, assuming beforehand he would exact nothing from them, which might oppose their order. Thus did the king obtain promises from those two, which pleased him. Soon afterwards his party was joined by Hilary of Chichester.
When this was done, this same Hilary went to the archbishop at Lenham [in Kent]: and he began to urge as he could not persuade him, inasmuch one may know how to favour the will of the king asserting to him much of expediency. He clearly demonstrated that he was a miracle of book learning, using many refined and persuasive words [rhetoric?].
The archbishop, who not which from his own but sought from Jesus Christ. "The Lord forbid," he said, "that with such trade in lands I might buy back the grace of this earthly king," having also explained to him this when compared the church and heavenly king had bought his with his own blood.
"You, however, and Lincoln, together with York, have been not only bought with bribes, and rather much is rendered ineffective as you might be made to suffer ecclesiastic penalties [excommunication], concerning the promises which you have made to the king about preserving his customs, which are recognised as being wholly against the holy canons of the fathers [of the church]. But yet whatever you might have done to us or others soon may strongly be doing to me in so horrible presumption at no time you have shared."
To this Hilary said, "I ask what is it that is so horrendous and evil which you alone in this matter have seen and understood, and nobody else but you? The king said to us using these words, that we should defer to him, and honour him, himself also promising us, that at no time would these concessions be the cause of something which he would use to seek and rebound on our order."
And the archbishop said, "Indeed it is not bad, but rather is good to honour one's lord, provided God is not dishonoured, and holy church is neither unsettled, nor imperilled. Nonetheless this you will most certainly come to know that the king will exact from you whatever you have promised to him, but you, however, will remain with promises you will not be able to collect from him."
See also
Michael Staunton (7 December 2001). The Lives of Thomas Becket. Manchester University Press. pp. 85–. ISBN 978-0-7190-5455-6.
References
Carolyn Poling Schriber (1 October 1990). The dilemma of Arnulf of Lisieux: new ideas versus old ideals. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-35097-8.
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